Genetics and Mendel's Laws

Flashcards covering key concepts in genetics and Mendel's laws, including definitions, principles, and analogies.

What is genetics?

Genetics is the field of biology that studies how characteristics are inherited in organisms.

What does DNA stand for?

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.

What is a gene?

A gene is a basic unit of inheritance composed of DNA that encodes a specific characteristic or function in an organism.

What are alleles?

Alleles are different versions of the same gene, such as brown and blue eye color.

What are chromosomes?

Chromosomes are structures that package DNA, with humans having 23 pairs.

What is a genotype?

The combination of alleles that an organism possesses.

What is a phenotype?

The physical characteristic expressed, such as eye color.

Who discovered the basic principles of inheritance?

Gregor Mendel discovered the basic principles of inheritance.

What does the Law of Segregation state?

Each organism has two alleles for each trait, which separate during gamete formation.

What does the Law of Independent Assortment state?

Genes for different traits are inherited independently of each other.

What is the Law of Dominance?

Some alleles are dominant and can mask the expression of recessive alleles.

How can the Law of Segregation be analogized?

It can be compared to mixing two cards in a hat, where only one card is drawn.

How can the Law of Independent Assortment be analogized?

It can be likened to tossing two coins, where the outcome of one does not affect the other.

How can the Law of Dominance be analogized?

It can be compared to mixing red and white paint, where the red (dominant allele) covers the white (recessive allele).